Turkey hires US lobby firm ahead of Erdogan Visit

May 13, 2017 2284 0

By Ilhan Tanir,

Washington DC

Whahington Hatti

The Embassy of Turkey has hired Burson-Marsteller for integrated PR services in the U.S. ahead of a visit by its president, PRWeek reported.

The contract, which began this month, is scheduled to run through 2017. The WPP firm is set to earn $1.1 million for the work.

Burson is responsible for supporting the Turkish Embassy’s communications in the U.S., including engaging public policy influencers through meetings and events, media relations touting the U.S.-Turkey relationship, embassy event support, and social media for the embassy’s Twitter and Facebook accounts.

The agency will also support Turkish consulates in Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York with media relations and grassroots engagement with community leaders.

A Burson representative confirmed the firm’s work on behalf of the embassy, but declined further comment.

Last month, Turkey’s citizens narrowly voted in a referendum to give President Recep Erdogan sweeping powers over the country’s government. Erdogan is scheduled to visit Washington, DC, on Tuesday to meet with President Donald Trump.

The Turkish government previously worked with APCO Worldwide on a short-term contract after an attempted coup in the country last July.

Turkish Government and Turkish Embassy currently retain more than a dozen PR and lobbying work in the US.

Meanwhile, AKP Government’s newest PR company turned out to be previously working for the Gulen affiliated Charter schools operator Cosmos Foundation in 2011. It’s not readily available how many years Gulenists worked with Burson-Marsteller though it’s little ironic to see AKP government now renting a PR group which was working to repair its arch nemesis Gulenists’ image only a couple years ago.

Here are some of leading PR and Lobbying groups, individuals representing the Turkish Government in the US:

Mr. Rudy Giuliani’s Greenberg Traurig LLP: Undisclosed amount of money

Advanced Advocacy, LLC (via Amsterdam & Partners): $20K x 12: $240K

SGR Government Relations: $30K

Flynn Intel Group (ended): $530K (via a Turkish businessman)

The Daschel Group (via Greenberg Traurig – Giuliani) $432K

Capitol Counsel (via Greenberg Traurig – Giuliani): $432K

Madison Group (via Amsterdam & Partners): $17.5K: $210K per year

APCO Worldwide (ended): in different installations ~$750K in total

Monte Advisory Group: $400K

Gephard Government Affairs:

Amsterdam & Partners: